It has almost been one month since I have owned the Datsun. She has been good to me so far.

I have made a list of small things that I want to fix in the next while.

• E brake (does not work. I believe it is disconnected)
• Clutch/Transmission (clutch feels engaged in 1st gear when it shouldn’t be, clunks and grinds when shifting into reverse)
• Locks (driver and passenger door locks do not work)

I figured out how to fix the driver’s door lock. Using my iPhone flashlight I was able to look into the door through the window crack and find out what was going on with my lock. It worked fine when I got the car. However, one night the lock would not engage. Ever since, I open the trunk and reach to the driver’s door lock knob. I am only 5’9″ so I typically end up with my feet off the ground sticking out of the trunk while I snake my way close enough to yank up the lock knob.

In order to fix this I am going to need to take the panel off the door and reconnect the lock mechanism where it connects to the knob and lever. I could clearly see where it popped out so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

I think the passenger door lock will be a bit trickier. The only way for me to engage or disengage the lock is when the door is closed. I believe it is because the inner door panel is not flush which prevents the mechanism from functioning properly when the door is open. Another project for another time.

Adventures I have been on so far:

Provo Canyon

The first chance I got to take the Hornet up the canyon I took. It was a beautiful sunny day and I had just gotten out of class. I was planning on getting some homework done but with weather like that, I couldn’t not go on a nice ride to really test out the Datsun.

I started driving north up to the mouth of the canyon. Still being a little unfamiliar with the handling of the car I drove pretty cautiously around the bends of the canyon for the first few minutes. I kept the window down the entire time so I could feel the wind and hear the car work its way up and through Utah mountains, whilst inside the stereo was cheering me on with some classic hits from Chicago.

I started to get a feel for the pull of the car around the turns thanks to not having power steering (something that I am now grateful for, well most of the time). I felt like James Bond as I zoomed through the tunnel; accelerating as fast as I could, so to hear the exhaust echo back and forth the cement walls.

It started getting a bit chilly and I didn’t want to run into any icy patches before the sun went down so I turned off at a boat launch. I drove down near the water and gave the Hornet a little photo shoot. She looked dang good.

Any second thoughts of buying the car left after that drive. Now, driving a few blocks here and there around the city when I’m in a hurry isn’t all that fun. But cruising in the sun through the canyon, now that’s what the car was built for anyway right?

Genola

December 7th and the sun is still shining in Utah Valley. My snowboard is still packed up but I’m not complaining. Or at least the Hornet isn’t. I finally got to experience my first “Sunday Drive”. It was nice. My girlfriend and I threw on our Ray Bans and drove down south to this little farm town called Genola to explore an abandoned factory I had been told about by a friend. She laughed as some guy in his big truck gave me a thumbs-up and a smile as we were leaving town. I told her it was her he was acknowledging, not my rumbly, bright yellow sports car. Thumbs-ups, head nods and stares are always appreciated.